walleye info

[Smithvillesteve]

Any walleye fishermen at Stockton willing to share some advice? I fish for walleye quite a bit at Stockton but never this early in the year. Mostly starting in June when the walleyes have moved onto the flats and the points. I troll cranks, use bottom bouncers and drift a jig and crawler if the wind is right. I know there is a debate if walleye spawn in Stockton or not but that they do go thru the process. I've heard rumors they are catching some walleye up here at Smithville on the dam at night. I havent been. Fishing at night not my thing. Anyway any advice would be greatly appreciated. Been waiting for these freaking winds to die down so i can get out and fish!! Thanks.

[Ryan Miloshewski]

You missed the spawn fishing on Stockton. That started middle of February this year. March 12th seemed to be the night they were all spawning. Saw fish in 1-3 fow almost everywhere around the dam area that night and not many after. They are mostly post-spawn right now, so I would focus on flats and channel edges. Or, against your preference, go to Smithville at night. You'll have to fish in twilight or dark to have success with the spawn bite anywhere. They'll stage deeper and won't move up until later in the day.

[Smithvillesteve]

Thanks Ryan. Appreciate your input very much. So I assume you believe that walleye do spawn at Stockton? I've heard they need moving water and a certain amount of silt. And this is why mdc stocks walleye in Stockton. But what do i know? I may head that way early next week and give it a shot. Looks like the winds are dying down a little bit. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

2 hours ago, Smithvillesteve said:

Thanks Ryan. Appreciate your input very much. So I assume you believe that walleye do spawn at Stockton? I've heard they need moving water and a certain amount of silt. And this is why mdc stocks walleye in Stockton. But what do i know? I may head that way early next week and give it a shot. Looks like the winds are dying down a little bit. 

Successfully? I'm not sold on it. But, they certainly go through the motions to the full extent.

[MrGiggles]

Yep, you missed the spawn. I've always had the best luck on that for the first couple weeks in March.

You can catch them on certain points all year long, especially those that stay shallow for a long ways, and are in close proximity to the river channel. Jig and crawler or bottom bouncer will probably produce some fish. 

They definitely spawn, but survival of the fry is low, from what I understand. 

 

[rps]

After the spawn, they scatter and any pattern is difficult. Sometime in April, they settle into a steady behavior based on daylight, water temp, and structure. That is when the trolled crank and BB can help you, Until late May/ early June I never could find a definitive which is better than another, but that is the time when I caught the most on Neds by accident. 

Tell us all what you find.

[Smithvillesteve]

Thanks boys! Appreciate your input here greatly. With all the rain down that way Stockton might be the lake to fish. Wont be a muddy mess in the dam area. I thought the bottom bouncers were more of a summer deal but i guess not. I'll probably try and troll some cranks to see if any walleyes are actively chasing. Maybe pick up a crappie here and there. Maybe drift a jig with a crawler if the wind is right. Once again, thanks to you boys!

[rps]

Before it gets too hot, set up a C rig with a No. 6 hook. Nose hook half a crawler drag at .5 mph over sandy  and pea gravel areas near drop offs and points. Start at 10 feet deep and move out in 5 foot increments. The link is to a 2011 post I made on the technique.

 

[Quillback]

Some walleye info from AGFC.  Some interesting stuff in the read, for example, walleye eggs stick to rocks.

Arkansas hatcheries help walleye angling action • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission